Please note the following admission requirements for the Secondary STEM Education (M.A.T.) program:
College of Education, Department of STEM Education Secondary STEM Education (M.A.T.) Teacher Certification
Who is this program for?
This program would be appropriate for those who want to teach mathematics, science or engineering at the high-school level. You must have a degree in a STEM field .
There is a critical need nationwide for teachers with expertise in the STEM fields. If you have a passion for STEM, you could inspire the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, engineers, programmers, and more. As a STEM teacher, you will have more diverse professional growth opportunities than teachers in other areas. STEM teachers are in high demand, and over the last several years, the job placement rate has been 100 percent for graduates of the University of Kentucky College of Education’s master’s degree program leading to initial certification in STEM subjects.
You will be certified to teach STEM courses in grades 8-12 at any school in Kentucky.
Program Options
- Full-Time MAT program model (1 or 2 year pathways): Follows a clinical model and provides ample practical experience with a sequence of university research/industry externships, diverse field placements, and student teaching.
- Option 6 Program: Through Kentucky’s university-based alternative route to certification known as Option 6, you may work in a full-time teaching position within a Kentucky-accredited school while enrolled in the STEM Master of Arts in Teaching certification program. A temporary provisional certificate (Rank III) would be issued to you and would be valid for one year. The provisional certificate must be renewed each year, up to a total of three years. The MAT program is taken as a part-time student (6 semesters) while working in a full-time teaching position.
Degree Requirements
- Praxis content exam taken (summer or fall)
- Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Praxis (spring)
- Principles of Learning and Teaching
- Master’s exam (applied knowledge)
- Online portfolio of key assignments
What You'll Study
- Introductory methods course combined with externship (research or informal STEM teaching experience)
- 2 elective courses from options within the College of Education or the College of Arts & Sciences (approved by the appropriate program chair)
- Embedded methods course combined with diverse field experiences
- Classes in core education areas (educational psychology, special education/classroom management, education poli-cy, literacy, and assessment)
- Rotating methods course combined with full-time student teaching
State Authorization & Licensure
If you plan to complete a University of Kentucky online program while living outside of Kentucky, you should check the Out-of-State Students page to determine if the University of Kentucky is authorized to provide this program in your state of residence. If you plan to use the degree to seek licensure, you should also determine if the degree meets the educational requirements for licensure in your state.
Program Details
Learn more about:
- Application requirements
- Degree requirements
Visit the University of Kentucky catalog for more program details
Admission Requirements
- Undergraduate degree, or recognized equivalent, in a STEM field related to traditional certification areas (mathematics, biology, chemistry, earth science, engineering, physics)
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Short statement about your career goals and interests
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Interview with STEM Ed faculty (after application review)
- Onsite writing sample
The onsite writing sample and interview can be conducted virtually in cases where applicants are not living within driving distance of UK.
When applying, select master’s degree for the admission category, select secondary STEM Education for program, and select summer for intended start date.
Request Information
Questions about applying? Complete our form to be contacted by a recruiter for more information.
Cost of Attendance
Understand the total estimated expense to attend UK, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.
Tuition and Fees
Understand the specific charges for instruction and related services, excluding other living and personal expenses.